Steve Jones's Real Name: Stephen Philip Jones

Quick answer: Steve Jones's real name is Stephen Philip Jones. He was born on September 3, 1955, in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, and is best known as the guitarist of the Sex Pistols.

Birth name and punk origins

Stephen Philip Jones—credited as Steve Jones—grew up in West London. Official Sex Pistols materials and music references list his birth name and Shepherd's Bush origin (Sex Pistols official bio; AllMusic). "Steve" is the standard short form of Stephen.

Before fame he was involved in petty crime; biographies describe how equipment for early bands was obtained by theft—a documented part of Pistols lore rather than rumor. He co-founded the Sex Pistols with Paul Cook; the classic lineup with John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Glen Matlock (later Sid Vicious on bass) detonated British punk in 1976–77.

Sex Pistols, solo work, and radio

Jones's raw Les Paul-driven sound defined Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977). After the band's collapse he played in the Professionals and pursued solo albums, session work, and acting cameos. He has lived for many years in Los Angeles, hosting the radio show Jonesy's Jukebox, where he interviews musicians between records (official Pistols site; AllMusic).

The Sex Pistols' later reunions and the 2020s Pistol dramatization kept Jones in the public eye. His memoir Lonely Boy recounts addiction and recovery in frank terms covered by music press.

Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks CD/vinyl Steve Jones memoir Lonely Boy Steve Jones solo albums CD